As Our Life Goes On

The last day of January is very windy and cold. This of course is not an unusual day for Winter in Ohio. The sun made a very brief appearance earlier today. This picture is from last week. That snow has melted and it has been replaced by a very light white dusting that does not cover the grass. Each day is a day that gets us closer to Spring.  There are no people walking in the frigid cold on the hike and bike trail behind my house. Parts of this trail can be clearly seen from my computer room when there is no foliage on the trees and bushes. Squirrels and birds seem to be staying somewhere that is out of the wind and few have shown up at the feeders today.  I feel the need to stay in and keep warm today also. 

The day is warm and the snow has melted. This picture was taken two days ago by my husband. The sun is not shining today. The temperature will be in the high 50s but it is still Winter in Ohio! Groundhog day will be here soon so Spring is usually not more than 6 weeks after that grand occasion. Hurry Spring!

Do not neglect me Do not let me fall into  Complete disrepair I can't be resurrected I'm starting to fall down now -Caroline

We actually did talk about going camping in Pennsylvania yesterday. This would be later in the year of course because I am still recovering from whatever I have had. Was it food poisoning or some type of intestinal virus. We will never know. It caused me to lose a couple of pounds which I am sure will come back quickly. Today I am feeling somewhat better but will do only what does not tire me.  The guys put some paint over some of the worn spots on the old 19 5 3 Stewart Coach house trailer on one of their Fall trips to the woods. That should hold it until next Spring when a fresh coat of paint can be added. 

The snow has been light but steady all day. I have not spent much time worrying about whether it is deep or not. Bad intestinal cramps in the middle of the night alerted me to the fact that I might have a virus or some other malady. It ended up being a day in which it was necessary to stick close to home and the necessary room facilities. A slight fever has reduced my energy. Eating anything seems almost repulsive as it causes more distress. I am fervently hoping for an overnight miracle cure. 

Old country churches Bound by civilization Poles boxes and wires -Caroline

The near zero temperatures have kept me on the inside looking out today. The windows on our old house are not hermetically sealed so frost does form on some of them. I actually find the random patterns of the ice crystals quite beautiful. 

The old Boston Township schoolhouse in Peninsula, Ohio has been nicely preserved though it seemed a rather depressing looking place as we passed it yesterday. It was cloudy at the time and some granular snow was falling. The old building is now used for town functions and a great contradance takes place there from time to time. It makes me happy to see the preservation of the historic old buildings. I'm certain this school holds many memories, good and bad, for the people who attended school there. 

Gray skies had turned to blue by the time we came back through Peninsula, Ohio this afternoon.  We took an afternoon trip to Medina to go through the antique mall. Lake effect snow was falling as we took off from home and it was very dark. It was more of a pleasant ride as we headed home. Peninsula is a quaint town in the Cuyahoga Valley that supports itself in many ways. It is a tourist destination and also it is known a being a speed trap town.  We saw flashing red and blue lights as we passed into the city limits. Another driver had been victim to the trap. It is best to go at least 5 under the limit when going through this place. 

It seems more and more difficult to climb back up the steep hill in back of the house. Getting down to the wetland area at the bottom was not too difficult though.  The vegetation that grew in the swampy area during the drought last Spring and Summer is now rotting in the bottom of the water. It will surely cause a stink next Spring. The temperatures approached 50 degrees but the wind was briskly enough to make it seem a bit cooler. Many hikers with dogs and bikers passed by the the bike trail. They seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. We will probably not see many more nice days like this one before Spring arrives. 

It is good to have a few slightly warmer sunny days during the Winter. Dealing with ice and snow has become more of a chore for us as we have gotten older. It is cold today but the sun is shining. It will be warmer tomorrow and that gives us something to look forward to. Saturday will be a good day to prepare for the drastic changes in the weather that are approaching. 

Deep in the back woods A stream flows through the valley Peaceful and serene -Caroline

No picnic today We've cancelled it until Spring So we'll see you then -Caroline

Our neighbor in Pennsylvania used to house his horses in the old shed shown in the first picture. He no longer has any animals but it seems like it wasn't too long ago that he had horses, cattle and pigs. The large fields that he owns are now leased out to another farmer. Things change when you get older but Farmer Don still climbs on his vintage tractor to clear out the driveway in the Winter. 

Hemlocks shade the stream Snow cover brightened by sun Calm refreshing sight -Caroline

The camp in Pennsylvania needed checked on this week. It was a surprise to find over a foot of snow piled on top of the trailer.  Farmer Don, who lives next door, was busy plowing his drives with his nice vintage Case tractor. Russ and his friend went to camp expecting to spend a lot of time in the woods. Some of the time that might have been spent in the woods was spent digging out the truck and making a path up the hill to the trailer. A lot more snow fell on Emlenton than fell on Stow, Ohio.  The snow is nearly melted off here at home. I saw a few blooming dandelions when taking a batch of cookies over to the neighbors house. It is only January so I must not think of Spring. The sun is shining and it is over 60 degrees. It is indeed a day to enjoy. 

There are actually three deer in these pictures. The larger doe is standing in front of her two offspring from last year. Sadly the large doe came through the yard limping today. She is favoring her right front leg and holds it up at times when she is standing. Deer have such thin legs. It would be easy for them to injure one when in flight. There are lots of holes, rocks and irregular things in the woods. Fortunately she can still walk and run. Hopefully the leg will heal. 

Bright morning sunshine Dissolved into a cloudy  Dark windy cold day The sunshine was deceiving Bringing no warmth to the day -Caroline

This morning as I sat at my computer I heard a thumping noise in the front of the house. It seemed like it came from the kitchen but I could not be sure. I looked outside to make sure there was not anyone at the door. What a beautiful sight awaited me. The sunrise was spectacular. I love getting up early just so none of these glorious morning moments will be missed. The colors are fleeting so there are only a few minutes to see them.  I am glad I got up to investigate the sound or this sight would have been missed. 

A Winter bouquet Dried flowers in the garden Standing in the snow -Caroline

1982 Plymouth Gran Fury We were able to find another old car. We have had our eyes on it for a few years and the owner/friend finally called us to say that he had bought a new car and wanted to sell this one. It will be a replacement car for the next car in the family that breaks down. Some electrical work must be done on the brake lights and a windshield wiper needs a repair. The seats have had seat covers protecting them. Other than that it is a really nice car for as old as it is. 

We have made a path to the woodpile and to the barn but the rest of the yard retains a dense snow pack. The deer traverse this easily but the squirrels, rodents and other small animals have a much more difficult time. Their tracks can be seen along the paths that we have cleared and in the deeper snow where they have to make jumps to each new location. Some animals seem to follow foot prints that we have made by walking around the yard. We must still lift each foot high to walk in the snow. It is probably good exercise but it can be tiring.  A red-tailed hawk swooped by the edge of the house this morning toward the bird feeder. They have to eat too. 

Sculptural snow balls Remnants of a heavy snow Melting in the sun -Caroline

The deer have been arriving in our yard near dusk each day. It is almost too dark to get a good clear picture. They seem very wary. These two deer are small and may have been born last Spring. Their larger mother came on the scene just before dark.  She seems more nervous about any sounds or movement than her offspring. The deer in this area seem to make rounds each day visiting bird feeders to see what they can find. They live in the city limits so they are off limits to hunters as long as they don't stray over the line which is just at the East side of our property. 

The sun is shining brightly causing icicles to form on shrubs, trees and houses. We awoke to single digit temperatures but looking out at the blue sky and sunshine one would think it is much warmer. I enjoy the beauty of the snow and ice but it can be treacherous on roads and  in parking lots. It is so easy to slip on a small patch of the black ice.  We have placed larger amounts of corn and sunflower seeds in the feeders for the birds and squirrels. Three deer visited the feeders at dusk.  They ate the remnants of seed  that they could find on the ground. They have also learned to bump the bird feeders with their heads to make more seed fall to the ground.  It is a good day for working inside and enjoying the bright sunshine from the warmth of our home. 

Happy New Year to  all.